Abstract

The main aim of this study is to ascertain the loss of fertility suffered by soils in the basin of the River Quipar, which flows into the River Segura, in the province of Murcia, by determining several physicochemical characteristics of the sediments retained by 18 selected check dams and comparing the same with the source soils. The AA. also try to explain the loss of nutrients as a function of the size of the watersheds and of the erosion rates calculated for the different catchments whose sediments are retained by the check dams. High fertility losses were observed in all soil types, especially calcaric Regosols. A general correlation was observed between the erosion and nutrient loss rates. It is highlighted that check dams are a useful tool for analysing the loss of fertility